July 2026 Roots Writers Announces 2026-27 Ancestor Question of the Month Topics
Roots Writers, Denton County Genealogical Society’s special interest writing group, is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 Ancestor Questions of the Month, listed below.
The Ancestor Question of the Month was begun in 2022 as a DCGS News feature to encourage members to begin or continue writing about their ancestors. Past questions have ranged from “Who is your favorite male/female ancestor?” and “Share a story about a family skeleton in the closet,” to “Write a thank you to an ancestor” and “Describe an ancestral couple’s wedding,” to name just a few. The focused writing prompts made for both bite-sized writing and reading, making it one of the most popular DCGS News features.
This year’s questions, compiled by Roots Writers members, are wide-ranging and should appeal to both the novice and experienced DCGS writer.
Members wishing to contribute stories should note the following Submission Guidelines:
- Limit submissions to 200 words or less.
- Images should be attached separately to your email. Make sure any wording in the image is legible.
- Email your submission to newsletterdcgs@gmail.com.
- Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the publication month (for example, August 1st for the September issue).
Plan now to submit stories answering one—or all—the questions to preserve and share your precious family history. Which one(s) will you choose?
2026-27 Ancestor Questions of the Month
September 2026 (due 8/1/26)
If you could time travel, which ancestor would you want to visit? Why would you choose that ancestor – something in particular about that person or the time period/location/historic event? Would you want to interact with the person in some way, or would you want to simply be an observer of their life, family interactions, etc.?
October 2026 (due 9/1/26)
Has researching your ancestors inspired you to learn more about a particular subject, develop a new skill, try a new hobby, visit the area where they lived, cook family recipes, or pursue some other type of personal development?
November 2026 (due 10/1/26)
What does an ancestor’s address tell you about them?
January 2027 (due 12/1/26)
In the course of researching the historical context involving your ancestors, what did you find the most interesting? How has that impacted your viewpoint?
February 2027 (due 1/1/27)
Have you developed a special fondness for ancestors you knew nothing about prior to your research? If so, what is it about them that led to those feelings?
March 2027 (due 2/1/27)
Who is your most problematic ancestor?
April 2027 (due 3/1/27)
What does an heirloom tell you about your ancestor?
May 2027 (due 4/1/27)
What is the most unusual/surprising piece of information you have learned about an ancestor during your genealogical endeavors?
August 2026 Scholarship Applicatois and October Question of the Month
Denton County Genealogical Society members are reminded that applications for the Diana Pearson White Continuing Education Scholarship are due at the first meeting of the programming year, Thursday, September 10th.Up to $150 is available for this round of scholarships.
The scholarship was established in 2024 to encourage DCGS members to attend educational classes, conferences, or workshops to enhance their research skills. The scholarship was named for longtime DCGS member Diana Pearson White, a charter member of the group, who served as the society’s first president in 1979-1981, with additional terms in 1996-1998 and 2002-02.
All applicants must be DCGS members in good standing, with dues paid for the 2026-27 membership year. Winners will be announced at the October 8th DCGS meeting.
For complete application information and downloadable form, please see the scholarship information on the DCGS website
Roots Writers, DCGS’s special interest writing group, announces the October Ancestor Question of the Month. Submissions will be included in the October issue of DCGS News.
October’s question:
“Has researching your ancestors inspired you to learn more about a particular subject, develop a new skill, try a new hobby, visit the area where they lived, cook family recipes, or pursue some other type of personal development?”
The Ancestor Question of the Month feature is open to all Denton County Genealogical Society members. Those wishing to contribute stories should note the following submission guidelines:
- Limit submissions to 200 words or less.
- Images should be attached separately to your email. Make sure any wording in the image is legible.
- Email your submission to newsletterdcgs@gmail.com.
- Submission deadline for the October question is September 1st.
We look forward to reading your submissions to learn how you’ve been inspired by your ancestors.